How to Clean Outdoor Wicker Furniture

Identify your outdoor wicker furniture

To know how to clean your wicker furniture, you first need to identify the material. Wicker refers to the weaving process used to make wicker furniture, but wicker can be made of different materials. The most common is wood wicker. Wood wicker furniture is most often made of rattan. But is also made of cane, bamboo and other wood or reed materials.
More recently on the market is "all-weather" outdoor wicker furniture which is actually made of synthetic materials such as resin or plastics. These materials are woven into wicker furniture which looks much like the real wood wicker but is much more durable for outdoor uses.
Finally, there is paper fiber wicker. This is actually made from paper tightly rolled and woven into a wicker pattern. If you have paper fiber wicker it is probably an antique and should not be used in an outdoor setting as it is very sensitive to water.

 Inspect your outdoor wicker furniture

After determining your wicker type, inspect your outdoor wicker. Is it painted or natural? Does it have a protective coating such as a varnish, lacquer or polyurethane? Knowing this is important to how you clean and care for your outdoor wicker furniture.

 Brushing and vacuuming your outdoor wicker furniture

If you have wood outdoor wicker furniture, you should regularly brush it with a soft but firm bristled brush such as a dust brush, vegetable brush, fingernail brush or even a toothbrush. This will help loosen that dirt that likes to accumulate between the wicker weave. After brushing, use the brush attachment on your vacuum to vacuum the loosened dirt. Doing this on a regular basis will keep your wicker furniture clean and in good shape. Of course, you can brush and vacuum synthetic wicker furniture as well, but since it is not as suspectible to water, it can be washed or even hosed down to help keep it clean on a regular basis.

 Washing your outdoor wicker furniture

If you have wood wicker furniture, you should thoroughly wash it about once a year. But don't wash it too often to avoid repeatedly getting the wicker furniture wet. To clean wood wicker furniture, first brush and vacuum. Then use about two tablespoons of soap in a 4 litres of water. Murphy's wood oil soap is a good vegetable-oil wood soap to use for cleaning wicker furniture. Wet a sponge or cloth in the mixture and wipe it down. Use a soft brush as needed to get into the weave.

Tilt the piece when washing to position the loosest weave at the bottom. This will help any moisture run down from the tightest weave to the loosest weave where it is most easily wiped up. Make sure you keep the weave straight while cleaning wicker furniture. Wood wicker will loosen up when it gets wet and moving the weave around can lead to weakness when the weave tightens as the wicker dries.

If your wood wicker furniture is unpainted (i.e. natural or has a clear coat), you can use a hose with light pressure to rinse off the soap residue. However, if it is painted, too much water can damage the finish so don't use a hose. Instead wash off any soap residue with a clean damp cloth. Also if your wood wicker furniture is made of bamboo, don't use a hose and don't get it too wet.

If you have synthetic wicker furniture (often called "all-weather" wicker), you can wash as needed. Simply add a mild detergent to a bucket of water and wipe down. There are no worries about spraying off with a hose.

Note again that paper fiber wicker furniture should not be washed or ever get wet. As mentioned above, paper fiber wicker should only be used indoors.

Mild and Mildew

 Wood wicker furniture can be susceptible to mildew when used outdoors. This often shows up as black spots that can't be removed with a regular washing. If you have mold or mildew, it can be difficult to remove. Try a cup of bleach in a gallon of warm water and scrub with a soft-bristle brush. Rinse well as bleach residue can damage your wood wicker furniture. If stubborn spots still remain, try a q-tip dipped in bleach and apply full-strength bleach directly to the spots. Again rinse well after applying.

To avoid mold or mildew in the future, keep your wood wicker furniture in a low-humidity spot with good air circulation. Wood wicker furniture is not meant to be out in unsheltered conditions and is best on a covered or enclosed porch. Synthetic wicker furniture is not susceptible to mold and is much more durable for full outdoor conditions.

Drying your outdoor furniture

Once you have washed your wicker furniture, it needs to thoroughly dry. The weave on wood wicker furniture becomes very loose when wet and can be permanently warped by using it before it is dry. Wipe as dry as possible with a dry cloth, and then set it in a sunny spot for 24-48 hours before using. Make sure to bring indoors or under cover if rain threatens during the drying time. Washing on a warm breezy day will help dry your wicker furniture faster.

Synthetic wicker furniture will dry faster and is not subject to the same warping as wood wicker furniture.

Oiling your outdoor wicker furniture

 If your outdoor wood wicker furniture is natural and not painted or sprayed with a protective coating, you can oil periodically to moisturize and give some protection from the elements. You can use either tung oil or boiled linseed oil (found at most hardware stores). Use a paint brush to apply and get the oil into the weave, wipe off excess oil with a lint free cloth. Be sure to allow to dry for several days before using. During the drying time, you may need to wipe excess oil that rises up during drying.
Obviously, synthetic wicker furniture does not need oil as it is not made of wood.

Protecting your outdoor furniture

  Protective coatings provide better protection than oil in outdoor applications. If your wood wicker furniture is natural, you may wish to put a clear finish on it, rather than oiling.

For a clear finish, you can apply a coating of varnish, shellac or lacquer. Make sure your wicker furniture is clean and dry before applying any finish. Finding a product in a spray can is best as it is easier to get in the crevices. Be sure to allow to dry for several days before using. Once a clear coat is applied, you can use furniture polish on it to bring out the gloss in between washings. Clear coats need to be reapplied as they wear, usually every 3-5 years or so.

Painting your outdoor wicker furniture

 Painting is another method of protecting your outdoor wood wicker furniture. Use a spray based paint for outdoor wood for easy application. Again be sure your wicker is clean and dry.
If your wicker is already painted and it needs a fresh coat of paint, make sure to remove any old flaking paint as possible before applying a new coat. This can often be accomplished by using a stiff brush to rub away as much as possible of the old paint. Then clean your wicker furniture thoroughly, dry, and apply a light coat of primer followed by paint. You can also finish with a clear top coat.
If there are multiple coats of thick, goopy paint, you may need to use a liquid paint stripper before repainting. Follow the directions for the liquid stripper. This is tedious work as you can't scrape as with flat wood furniture. Use a paint brush with the bristles half-cut to make a firm brush for pushing out the stripped paint from between the cracks. A flat screwdriver or other sharp object can also be helpful. Make sure to thoroughly dry after stripping before repainting.

 Storing your outdoor wicker furniture

 Although all-weather synthetic wicker furniture is durable in outdoor conditions, wood wicker furniture is much more fragile. It should not be exposed to rain, snow, etc. A cover is a good idea for your outdoor wicker furniture. Wood wicker should never be left outdoors in winter - store it in your garage or a shed to protect it off-season. And although very durable, synthetic wicker furniture will eventually show wear from the elements, so at least cover it off-season and if possible, store in covered place.
With these ten tips for cleaning and caring for your wicker furniture you should get years of enjoyment from your outdoor wicker furniture!

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